Updated: Google Did Not Buy ICOA

Updated: The reports of Google acquiring Wi-Fi provider ICOA are false, according to a Google source.

ICOA CEOGeorge Strouthopoulos also said in an email that the reports of an acquisition are "absolutely false."

Reports surfaced this morning that Google is buying Wi-Fi hotspot provider ICOA Inc. for $400 million, but those reports are false. The news was originally posted as a press release on PR Web.

Warwick, Rhode Island-based ICOA provides Wi-Fi broadband for public locations such as airports, universities, marinas and restaurants in 45 states. The company also provides related services and infrastructure.

This is the latest step by Google to expand a network of different offerings that provide Internet access. Google also built a Wi-Fi network in Mountain View, Calif. to provide public Internet access.

The search giant also recently expanded a partnership with Boingo to offer more than 4,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide. It's unclear how the ICOA acquisition will affect that deal--whether ICOA's hotspots could be added to that network or whether Google could build out its own competing product with Boingo.

At the same time, Google also recently launched its own fiber optic network to provide Internet access in Kansas City.

I was previously a staff reporter at Forbes covering start-ups and venture capital. I was previously a reporter for Dow Jones VentureWire where my work also appeared in the Wall Street Journal. Follow me or contact me on Twitter tomiogeron....